So. Cal Wildfires: Sept. 29-Oct. 5

A fire unit is dwarfed by flames in San Timoteo Canyon east of Moreno Valley, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005, near Calimesa, Calif. Motorists on the 60 Freeway near San Timoteo Canyon Road passed within yards of a huge wall of flames before authorities could close the highway.

Firefighters watch for flare-ups on a burned-out mountainside near the town of Barrett Junction, Calif., in eastern San Diego County, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005. The fire burned a remote area along the U.S.-Mexico border near Tecate, Mexico.

Chuck Robbins of the Bureau of Land Management checks the progress of a wildfire in Redlands, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005.

A fire truck passes by a sign above the 118 Ronald Reagan Freeway showing gratitude to firefighters on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2005, in Simi Valley, Calif., following wildfires that burned several thousand acres in Southern California.

A helicopter drops fire retardant at the Thurman Fire in the San Bernardino National Forest, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 1, 2005. More than 1,000 emergency personnel are battling the Southern California wildfire in rugged terrain.

Firefighter Todd Cremins, top, Engineer Mike Burton, and Captain Martin Johnson of Station 31 in Pasadena, Calif., rest along County Club Drive in Burbank, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2005. The crew has been fighting the southern California wildfires for the last four days.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger thanks law enforcement officers and firefighters after taking a helicopter tour of the Topanga Canyon fire, north of Los Angeles, Friday, Sept. 30, 2005, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. More than 3,000 firefighters are battling the wildfires that have burned more than 20,000 acres in suburban Los Angeles.

A couple celebrates their wedding as a wildfire burns nearby in the Verdugo Mountains north of Burbank, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 30, 2005. The 1,100-acre blaze, which began Thursday, forced the evacuation of about 70 homes on Saturday, Oct. 1.

Residents clap and wave to firefighters as they wait to return to their neighborhoods following wildfires in the Bell Canyon and Woolsey Canyon areas, Sept. 30, 2005, in Los Angeles.

Smoke from wildfires is seen near the Oak Park area of Ventura County, Calif., Sept. 29, 2005.

Cheryl Goetz, a engineer with the California Department of Forestry, takes pictures with her camera phone as fire makes its way down a unpopulated canyon near the south side of Simi Valley, Calif., Sept. 30, 2005.

Cheryl Goetz, a engineer with the California Department of Forestry, lures a horse to safety with leftovers from her lunch as the wildfire makes its way down a unpopulated canyon near the south side of Simi Valley, Calif., Sept. 30, 2005.

Erica Nenkervis surveys the destruction of her home Sept. 29, 2005, in Simi Valley, Calif. A wind-whipped 17,000-acre wildfire raced across hills and canyons along the city's northwestern edge Thursday, threatening homes and forcing hundreds of people to evacuate.

Flames shoot up behind homes in Oak Park, Calif., in Ventura County, Thursday ,Sept. 29, 2005.

Residents look on as fire burns toward homes, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005, in Oak Park, Calif.

Smoke from a wildfire in Simi Valley, Calif., is seen on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005. The wind-whipped wildfire grew rapidly north of Los Angeles, threatening hundreds of homes and forcing evacuations as firefighters worked under hot, dry conditions.

California Department of Forestry firefighters battle flareups in the brush in the Susana Knolls area of Simi Valley, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005. A nearly 17,000-acre fire burned through hills and canyons between the western edge of Los Angeles and suburban communities.

A firefighter drags a hose into position in an attempt to stop flames that jumped Woosley Canyon Road in Chatsworth, Calif., Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005.

Laura Clark, left, and Jullian McCann hold a sign and wave, thanking firefighters Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005, in Calabasas, Calif. The firefighters are taking a stand at this spot to prevent the fire from jumping Highway 101. The Topanga fire burned into Ventura County as it has burned more than 16,000 acres. About 3,000 firefighters from across the southland are working together to extinguish the fire.

Tom Berens, of Forest Falls, Calif., monitors the Thurman Fire burning near Mentone, Calif., with son Brett, 20, left, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005. The fire burned more than 100 acres as it burned from Thurman Flats towards Angeles Oaks. Wildfires continue to burn in many parts of Southern California.